It’s a milestone: Peninsula Health staff Yvonne Santvoort and Jodi Foley with cupcakes representing 100,000 COVID-19 tests. Other staff are holding the 100,000th sign. Picture: Gary Sissons
THE 100,000 swab tests conducted by Peninsula Health for COVID-19 are being described as a “significant milestone for everyone involved”.
The “milestone” patient visited the drive-through screening clinic at the Frankston Hospital campus, corner of Hastings Road and Yuille Street, last week.
“Thank you to every single person who has come forward and done the right thing – getting that test at the earliest sign of any COVID-19 symptom,” the operations director of Peninsula Health’s Screening Clinics Jodi Foley said.
“We’ve come a long way since March. As the coronavirus situation evolved in Victoria over these past eight months, so have we, continually adapting our service to give more residents the opportunity to get a test quickly and locally,” Ms Foley said.
“I want to pay tribute to our extraordinary team who have dedicated themselves to this purpose since we opened the first testing clinic at Frankston Hospital on 13 March.
“Our staff have been available through rain, hail and shine to help stop the spread of this insidious virus, and I am so proud to work alongside them every day.”
As well as the hospital-based clinics and drive-through site, Peninsula Health’s mobile screening clinic has been “popping-up” at temporary sites, covering thousands of kilometres back and forth from Portsea to Bonbeach.
Ms Foley thanks partners the Australian Defence Force, Department of Health and Human Services, Monash University, Frankston City Council, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Scouts Victoria, Frankston and District Basketball Association, YNA Agency and St John Ambulance.
“Our local GPs and primary care providers have also been invaluable in supporting our efforts to keep our community safe and well,” she said.
“Whether it is access to community venues or the provision of additional staffing, the collective support has allowed our healthcare teams to provide an invaluable level of assurance for our community, during an uncertain time.”
While Victoria is free of known active coronavirus cases, Ms Foley says the steps towards COVID “normal” do not mean the community should be any less alert. “Even though positive detections have been at zero for more than a month, it’s not over yet – please get tested if you have any symptoms.”
“The test is quick, safe and free. No matter how slight your symptoms are – be it a cough, runny nose, temperature for example – please attend one of our locations immediately.
“You must self-isolate until you return a negative result. In most cases we can get this result back to you within 24 hours.”
For the locations of Peninsula Health-run screening clinics, including opening hours, visit peninsulahealth.org.au/covid19screeningclinics
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 8 December 2020
